Look Up: A Nearly Total Eclipse of the Moon Happens Tonight

Skip the eclipse glasses tonight — you won't need them. A deep partial lunar eclipse sweeps across the sky starting this evening, dimming 96% of the moon into a dusky red glow visible to more than 3 billion people across the Americas, Europe and Africa.

The Moon Slips Into Earth's Shadow Overnight

The eclipse begins at 9:24 p.m. EDT, when the moon first enters the outer edge of Earth's shadow, though the real show doesn't start until 10:34 p.m. EDT, when it slides into the shadow's darker inner core and the visible partial eclipse begins. Maximum eclipse arrives at 12:13 a.m. EDT, with 96.2% of the moon's surface covered, leaving only a thin sliver glowing bright white along one edge while the rest of the moon takes on a dim orange or red hue.

The partial phase wraps up at 1:52 a.m. EDT, and the moon fully clears Earth's shadow by 3:02 a.m. EDT. All told, the full event runs about 5 hours and 38 minutes from start to finish, according to timeanddate.com, with the partial phase itself lasting roughly 3 hours and 18 minutes.

Timing shifts by time zone: East Coast viewers will see the peak land right around midnight, West Coast stargazers catch maximum eclipse just a few hours after sunset, and viewers across the U.K., Europe and Africa will see it unfold in the early morning hours before sunrise.

No Glasses, No Rush: Why This One's Easy to Watch

Unlike a solar eclipse, this one requires zero safety equipment. You can look straight at it with the naked eye, and there's no need to catch every second, since the moon creeps into and out of Earth's shadow gradually over hours rather than minutes. If you only have time for a quick look, aim for right around maximum eclipse, when the moon appears most dramatic.

This eclipse also lands just minutes before August's full moon officially arrives at 12:19 a.m. EDT on Aug. 28, commonly known as the Sturgeon Moon.

Not the Only Show This Season

This eclipse doesn't travel alone. It follows the total solar eclipse that crossed parts of Europe, Africa and the Middle East on Aug. 12, since solar and lunar eclipses typically pair up roughly two weeks apart during the same eclipse season. Skywatchers who miss tonight's show will have to wait a while for the next deep lunar eclipse, so clear skies and a patch of open sky tonight are all that's needed to catch it.

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